Do Not Call Violations Top Consumer Complaints

Unwanted phone calls once again topped the list of consumer grievances for 2013. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released its top 10 most common complaints.

By JOHN CEBALLOSLEDGER MEDIA GROUP

WINTER HAVEN | Unwanted phone calls once again topped the list of consumer grievances for 2013.The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released its top 10 most common complaints, with violators of the Do Not Call Registry easily coming in at No. 1. Consumers filed 18,862 complaints related to Do Not Call violations last year, which is more than the rest of the top 10 combined. It also represents an increase from 2012, when there were 17,772 such grievances. This is the fourth consecutive year Do Not Call violators have topped the state's consumer complaint list.These complaints came from Floridians registered with either the state or national Do Not Call lists, which give consumers the chance to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls at home.Aaron Keller, a spokesman for the consumer services department, said the increase in complaints dovetails with the higher number of subscribers to the Florida Do Not Call list. He attributes both increases to the removal of the $10 registration and $5 annual renewal fees for the state's Do Not Call registry. Phone numbers stay on the Florida Do Not Call List for five years before they need to be renewed. Meanwhile, numbers on the national registry are removed when they are disconnected, reassigned or a consumer opts out of the list. Overall, there were 47,226 complaints filed with the department's consumer assistance center. "Telemarketing" — which encompasses complaints from Floridians, as well as out-of-state consumers receiving calls from Florida telemarketers — was No. 2 on the list with 3,626 complaints, and does not include people registered with the state or national Do Not Call lists.Other complaints concern:Fuel — The price at the pump not being displayed on the marquee or bad gasoline ruining an engine.Communications — Trouble with telephone or cellular accounts, as well as out-of-state individuals having trouble with Florida-based communication companies.Landlord/Tenant disputes.Real Estate Broker/Salesperson — Unlicensed activity or grievances against licensed brokers.Cable — Billing or service disputes with cable providers.Credit/Banking — Issues with credit cards or financial institutions, as well as out-of-state individuals having issues with Florida-based financial institutions.Motor Vehicle Sales/Accessories — Issues with vehicles or accessories purchased in Florida.Travel/Vacation Plans – Encompassing complaints from Floridians or out-of-state residents with grievances with Florida-based companies that sell travel. These include problems with accommodations or vacation certificates.According to Keller, the department received 382 complaints from Polk County residents, with 307 being filed against businesses — banking institutions or cable and telephone companies — not regulated by Florida consumer services and 75 being filed against businesses regulated by the department, including auto repair shops, intrastate movers and telemarketers. Donna Wood, spokeswoman for the Polk County Sheriff's office, said consumers should be particularly wary of unsolicited phone calls during this time of year."While visiting family out of state recently, we received a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Windows support telling me he discovered a problem with my Windows program," Wood said in an email. "He continued to demand we provide him with information to access the account online."This scam is not uncommon during holidays after people have purchased new digital technology devices or signed extended wireless contracts."According to Wood, that's just one of many ways criminals attempt to extract personal information from consumers. There have been scammers even claiming to represent the National Do Not Call registry."Our message is consistent," she said. "Never give out personal information over the phone. Do not provide bank account details, birthdays, Social Security numbers or Internet passwords."Keller said the consumer services department investigates all Do Not Call violators, with the punishment ranging from a written warning to a $10,000 fine depending on the number of infractions. For all complaints filed this year against businesses regulated by the department, staff members were able to recover more than $3,477,000 on behalf of Florida consumers. Meanwhile, consumers who want to file a complaint of any sort can call 1-800-HELP-FLA or visit www.freshfromflorida.com.

[ John Ceballos can reached at john.ceballos@newschief.com or at 863-401-6981. ]

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